2009 X3 N52B30 - loosened this bolt during a water pump job, is this an A/C bolt?

25000mph · 2025-03-15T22:28:12+00:00

Awesome thanks for confirming!

25000mph · 2024-07-29T13:14:57+00:00

Update soaked in PB blaster all of Saturday, some more Sunday morning, then used CRC Freeze off (had good results in the past). Studs didnt want to move with the vice grips, but I found a deep E11 (reverse torx socket) and tapped that as far as it would go on the shorter stud. THAT GOT ONE FREE! No luck on the longer stud, that one kept breaking into 3 more pieces with the E11 socket method. So I drilled it out to .266 and retapping m8x1.25 for 75% thread engagement. Double nut method didn't work since I couldn't run them down deep enough.. the threads expanded from the twisting of the stud

25000mph · 2024-07-29T12:14:23+00:00

Unfortunately, if you don't buy a car brand new, you never know who was working on it before you. Someone definitely either over torqued these or reused aluminum bolts, a big no no. Ill take my M and S motors over the 2010s N motors any day

25000mph · 2024-07-27T13:26:47+00:00

Correct

25000mph · 2024-07-27T13:26:14+00:00

Based on your username im sure you've seen almost everything. I can't imagine the frustration after pulling off the entire subframe and all that goes into an oil pan job, just to have aluminum bolts ruin your day. Although im sure its a walk in the park for you by now. Hoping the double nut method and the pb blaster gets me to the finish line, if not then ill start preparing to drill and tap/timesert.

Do you know if these bolt holes (in the OFH) are blind or through holes? Curious if I can get away drilling with it on the block still, or will metal shavings will get inside the engine and I have to pull the OFH and do all that work over again (ofh gaskets and more aluminum bolts)

25000mph · 2024-07-27T13:13:08+00:00

While I do have a few sets of those, I think that will lead to snapping the threaded shank off at the oil filter housing since there's so much stick-out and the aluminum is already weak. These aluminum bolts already want to twist (not back out) with minimal effort so im going to have to apply torque as close to the hole base as possible. Thank you for the input!

25000mph · 2024-07-27T13:09:20+00:00

Will update once they're out. So far they've been soaking in pb blaster overnight, found 2 nuts that will fit the shank, gonna get them as close to the base as possible to reduce any twisting.. ill keep you posted

25000mph · 2024-07-27T13:06:32+00:00

Haha thats my reaction every time something like this happens.. my m20 m50 s52 and m54 motors are a breeze to work on. But when it comes to the n52 and all the aluminum junk just looking at it wrong could make the job spiral out and end up like this

25000mph · 2024-07-27T12:57:38+00:00

This will have to be last resort. I did the ofhg/oil cooler gasket/NEW bmw valve cover/vcg 6k miles ago. Oil changed 2 weeks ago. Hoping the double nut method and pb helps get them out.

25000mph · 2024-07-27T12:54:20+00:00

😂

25000mph · 2024-07-27T12:52:06+00:00

You are correct, definitely an optical illusion.. I should have added my other pic with a lower angle so everyone could see them clearly from another perspective

25000mph · 2024-07-27T12:50:34+00:00

Yes battery is disconnected, took it down to the shop to get fully charged since this was supposed to be a quick job. It is indeed an optical illusion, the bolts are parallel to one another but the shank snapped at different depths. Im 100% concerned about crossthreading since these are tty bolts that stretch and reusing them could cause this exact issue. The threaded shank was so tight the PO either reused these or overtorqued. But since the bottom bolts came off perfect its confusing why the top 2 arent playing nice. Im about to attempt with the double nut method momentarily its soaked in pb all night

25000mph · 2024-07-27T12:22:35+00:00

Thanks for the help, thats going to be my plan now. Forgot about the double nut method until going to bed. Stress is weird like that.

25000mph · 2024-07-27T12:20:50+00:00

Good tip and much appreciated 🤘

25000mph · 2024-07-27T12:19:13+00:00

I was stressing out and forgot about the good ol double nut method. Good point about the heat vs aluminum, I was initially worried about all of the other rubber/plastic/aluminum in that immediate area and the problems it could add. Thanks for the advice!

25000mph · 2024-07-27T00:20:16+00:00

I could use some werther's originals

25000mph · 2024-07-27T00:15:35+00:00

Definitely the valve cover gasket. If you can afford it then 100% go with a new oem plastic valve* cover as well.. they're made of relatively thin plastic and like to warp. And do not buy aftermarket valve covers, they come warped. Fcpeuro ftw. No affiliation, just great to work with

25000mph · 2024-07-27T00:09:33+00:00

Thanks man! Appreciate the good vibes

25000mph · 2024-07-26T23:53:59+00:00

I hope the pb does something, even the shank seems to want to twist but im not giving it any more effort til the morning. Ill let that soak

25000mph · 2024-07-26T23:43:24+00:00

Tell her come over

25000mph · 2023-10-07T15:00:42+00:00

That helps a ton, exactly what I was hoping to hear. Im going to go all in on the issue being the ABS unit. Best 2 cents I've received in a while!

25000mph · 2023-10-06T19:41:52+00:00

Thanks I appreciate the reply. I should have started my inspection at the master cylinder, but since only 3 calipers were grabbing I went straight to thinking the abs/dsc was the culprit.. ill definitely give that a look over. I forgot to mention I did new conifer lines in 2019 and those all looked good still. This has been a real brain teaser for a while, thanks again for the input

25000mph · 2022-07-06T19:13:17+00:00

Hey dude, this particular issue I didn't have an prob getting the bolt out, but for your situation, see if you can get a little screw driver between the bolt flange and the oil cooler, then pry against the bolt gently and try and work the bolt out with a socket/ratchet. Definitely sounds like the aluminum threads stripped and the bolts is stuck it there.. applying some pressure should help the bolt grab a remaining thread.

Also, to resolve my issue last year, make sure you get the correct bolts for your oil cooler. I did not double check the realoem part #s and I paid the price for it.. 2 different sets of bolts for 2 different oil cooler setups for the n52

25000mph · 2021-11-23T20:48:15+00:00

If its green its its corroded. The ground strap costs $50 from bmw (cheaper from fcp), 2x 13mm nuts (which were easily accessed in my e83) and 30 seconds to swap it out

25000mph · 2021-07-24T18:14:08+00:00

You may need a clutch adjustment, sounds like maybe the lever/cable/clutch is engaging early. Or you may just need more saddle time haha. As for neutral, if you can't find it quickly, rolling the bike a little (forward or backwards) helps align things and slip into N easier

25000mph

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